Forbidden.

Percy Jackson awoke to the violent banging at the door and what sounded like the jangle of keys. Instantly, he scrambled to his feet and put his back against the wall, readying himself. Once upon a time, Percy slept like a rock. But that was before him and Sally moved into Gabe's house. 

"Alright, Brain Boy. Get up before your mother gets home and gives me another headache," the gruff voice of Gabe Ugliano shouted down at him. When his burly stepfather opened the door to reveal the day's natural sunlight, Percy couldn't help but squint as his eyes were forced to adjust. 

Instead of responding with the snarky remark that was on the tip of his tongue, Percy opted for silence. Today was a day of self-preservation. It was a few days before the reaping, so Percy made sure he was on his best behavior this week. He'd only gotten in one fight with Gabe.  

It was a good week.  

Contrary to popular belief, you could be starving while living in Victor's Village. At least Percy was. Gabe had locked him in the basement, as he usually did after he received his nightly punishment. The 4'X4' basement, or ‘the hole’ really only qualified as a dark cellar, but it was Percy's second bedroom. Usually, he could escape such desolate and lonely days by leaving the house early and meandering at the docks and beach, training, or illegally exploring some of the ruins inside district 4.  

But on his most unlucky days, Gabe woke him up in the morning, and used his artfully crafted stupidity to pick a useless fight that made Percy lash out. He then either punched his lights out and/or threw him in the basement as punishment. The first few times, Gabe would let him out after an hour or so, but as the years went on Percy would find himself trapped downstairs for days at a time.  

Percy's mother, Sally Jackson, was a wonderful woman and he knew she hated seeing her son in pain. But there was nothing that she could really do to stop Gabe's oppressive hatred toward Percy. Not only was Percy as defiant as the ocean, but he was the son of another man. A man that Sally Jackson once loved. And Gabe Ugliano's obsessive and violent nature coupled with his abusive jealousy made for a crippling and suffocating relationship between him and Sally. Percy knew he mistreated Sally as well, but he was a manipulative bastard. Usually, how Sally was treated depended on Percy’s behavior. He also made her work all day even though he was wealthy enough to never need financial support again. 

Neither Percy nor Sally was mentally or physically able to keep the Victor at bay. When Sally came home, Gabe would do his best to keep them separated. She often entered the house to a drunken onslaught of questions, or to find Percy locked in the basement yet again. Gabe often used them against each other; if Sally misbehaved, he would beat Percy. If Percy misbehaved well... he didn't let it get that far. When Gabe threatened his mother’s safety, he would do anything his stepfather asked.  

Percy didn't attempt to walk up the stairs until he heard Gabe's loud, frumpy footsteps retreat from the door. Even then, he crept up slowly, avoiding all of the parts of the stairs that he knew to be creaky. Even though Gabe had let him out for the time, Percy knew that the safest way to live with Gabe is if he lived life as silently as possible.   

And the time he spent training as a career, avoiding district peacekeepers, and living a generally secretive life had taught Percy to move with grace and fluidity. Sure, he was only 16, but he was finally starting to grow into the body that his father's side of the family had blessed him with.  

If only he wasn't so malnourished. 

He wasn’t scared of Gabe. He wasn’t.  

Percy did what he had to do to make sure his mom didn’t have to suffer.  

Percy almost made it past the door when he realized Gabe was in the kitchen directly across from his basement door. The bastard was cooking food, and he didn't know if he was just hungry or what, but it actually smelled good. He couldn't help but feel his mouth water as his stomach cramped with hopeless famine.  

Gabe caught his eye and attempted a crowd-winning smile. To Percy, he just looked like a shark with razor sharp fangs and the remains of past victims still rotting away between his canines. He had come to associate any attempt at pleasantry from Gabe probably meant some rough task for Percy.   

His smile had fooled both Percy and his mother when they saw Gabe's games on TV for the first time. They thought he was just your average strong, rather charming tribute from district 4. But he was just playing the Games, and he played them as masterfully as he did people.  

"Come sit, Perseus," he said. Percy's lips curled up at the use of his real name, but he bit his tongue- he doubted the 200th reminder would do anything.  

Percy gave Gabe a good once-over. He was wearing clean khakis and a grey button up shirt that wasn't fastened all the way, exposing his muscular chest. Gabe has a stocky, meaty frame at 5'8".  

When Gabe was fulfilling his “step fatherly duties,” which included overseeing the majority of Percy’s training, he had told Percy that he used to run 10 miles every day and then spend the rest of his time practicing skewering people. It seemed old habits die hard because Gabe was unrealistically jacked.  

\In another life, Gabe Ugliano was the type to sit on the couch smoking cigarettes and getting wasted with his loser friends while contributing nothing in life. But, in reality, Gabe chose the harshest and most violent lifestyle that a person in the districts could lead.  

Percy obliged by shuffling into a chair. They had an open concept, luxurious blue kitchen with a half island extension separating the inner kitchen from the rest of the rooms. To Percy's right was the dining room table, which was where Gabe often frequented with his Capitol visitors and other disgusting friends.   

"I got company coming over tonight, so be on your best behavior, eh?" Gabe said in between bites of scrambled eggs. Even though he was starving, Percy couldn't help but be disgusted by the pieces that fell out of his mouth as he chewed with it wide open. A third of his mind was preening, another third wishing he could be eating, and the other third was thinking, who eats eggs at 5 PM?  

Percy just nodded. He tried to keep his eyes trained on the curtains behind Gabe's head, but he couldn't help but watch as he shoveled mouthful after mouthful between his teeth. Unfortunately, Gabe seemed to notice. 

"You want some food, boy?" Gabe said, a smirk lingering on his lips. Being the narcissist that he was, Gabe loved to play games. But Percy, being the rebellious and stubborn person that he was, loved to thwart his stepfather's plans at every turn.  

"I'd rather eat glass than eat off the same plate as you," he deadpanned.  

Apparently, Gabe seemed to be peculiarly resistant to his prodding this evening because he just burst out laughing.  

He pointed his fork at Percy, "You're sharp as ever today, eh. Want some more time in the hole? Ought to do you some good before tonight."  

Percy just looked down at his hands, feigning disinterest. Hopefully Gabe couldn't see how his eyes widened, or how his hands got all clammy. He didn't really want to think about the implications of his last statement. He'd rather sit in the hole for another two days than entertain his rowdy nightclub friends.  

"Come here and eat this food," he said, knocking Percy out of his stupor. He looked up to find Gabe staring at him intently, with the paper plate he had been eating on outstretched. Percy warred with himself for a few seconds before resigning and shuffling around the kitchen island to face his stepfather.  

Remember, Mom asked you to be on your best behavior. You can do this for her.  

He was standing a few paces away from Gabe when the burly man outstretched his hand and dropped the plate of eggs on the ground with a resounding splat. The man and boy stared at each other with a loathe that could cut lines through the Capitol, neither one willing to break eye contact first.  

“You tellin’ me a dog like you is above eatin’ off the floor?” Gabe sneered, “I remember when you and your mother was scavengin’ for every meal, boy.” 

White hot rage bubbled beneath Percy’s skin. Yeah, maybe he had eaten off the floor before they had moved in with his stepfather. But that was then, and this is now. And there was no way in Panem he was going to be playing this game with Gabe.  

“I’d rather starve,” Percy spat, spinning on his heel and taking the first few steps towards the stairs that would lead to his room and sanctuary.  

 Until Gabe played his ultimate trump card, “Fine, son. I’ll just have your mom do it.”  

Percy knew it was coming; he was too used to Gabe’s games at this point. But Percy would never give Gabe the satisfaction thinking that he was doing anything the man asked because he wanted to. The caveat to that was that he would never willingly put his mother in such a humiliating position. So, Percy Jackson swallowed his pride yet again and walked back into the kitchen.  

“I’m not your son.” 

Gabe just chuckled and nodded his head toward the mess on the ground, urging Percy to eat. Every instinct in his body wanted to take a whopping mouthful of eggs and spit it in Gabe’s ugly face. But it was around the time his mother was coming home, and Percy didn’t want Gabe to get any big ideas and punish her instead.  

For Sally. For Sally. For Sally. For Sally. For Sally. For Sally.  

After he swallowed his first bite, his stomach seemed to realize how hungry it was. It was all Percy could do not to take handfuls and shove them in his mouth. And Gabe just watched in silence, relishing the way Percy lowered himself to his orders. T 

Percy cleared the floor before he knew it. He only barely registered Gabe closing the space between them with a few powerful strides. Quicker than Percy could react, Gabe had his hair in his hand and yanked so hard he marveled how his hair didn’t fall straight out.  

Gabe had muddy brown eyes, but when he was angry his eyes changed into dark, abysmal voids from the deepest parts of the Ocean. When Gabe's eyes went black, Percy knew he was in for a beat that would leave him limping for days.  

“You should be thankful, Brain Boy. Don’t you forget who gave you everything you have,” Gabe said.  

It was times like these that Percy liked to pretend he was swimming deep in the ocean, lost to this world of pain and misery. In Percy’s perfect world, he would live in the sea that had always welcomed him like an old friend. Maybe he would adventure and search for the long-lost kingdoms of the sea.  

But Percy had Sally, and Sally needed him.  

The injustice of it all made Percy’s blood boil with white hot rage. Sally deserved more than a man like Gabe- if you could even call him that.  Percy’s father had abandoned them and left them to rot in the care of such evil.  

Gabe was the worst person Percy had ever been acquainted with, and he was acquainted with all of Gabe's friends, so that was saying a lot. The worst part about Gabe Ugliano was that he had influence with some of the most powerful people in the district.  

One of his more creative threats involves sending his mother to a Capitol institution or having her publicly scandalized. Sadly enough, he had the power to do just that and worse.  

As a result, Percy tried to spend a lot of time out of the house for his own sanity... not to mention physical health. He felt bad about it, but he always made sure to be home before Sally got off work so that Gabe couldn't take his frustrations out on her.  

Being the stepson of a victor meant he also had certain societal appearances to keep up with. Much to Gabe’s chagrin, Percy had spent the majority of his time ignoring all of these "duties" and spent most of his time—well, wasting his time.  

That was until Gabe got a little bit extra dirt to bargain with. Starting about 9 months ago, Percy had to train as a career for the annual hunger games and attend victor's events with Gabe. Being from District Four, he had always been trained at school. Gabe started drilling him relentlessly and gave him workouts to do every day. 

As Percy seethed, his rage started to transform into something monstrous. All his life, Percy had been forced to keep a tight cap on his emotions for the sake of his mother. But Percy didn't bow naturally to obedience, and his emotions were as unruly as his hair.  

The ground started to tremble with a silent fervor as Gabe finally released the vice grip he had on Percy’s hair and retreated into his private living quarters. 

 Percy wanted to split the ground open and lay waste to the entire house, starting with the hole. He wanted to bury the whole place with Gabe and his nasty friends inside. 

The ground continued its frantic shaking as Percy warred with his destructive impulses. He clamped his hands over his ears to drown out the noise of the cups rattling. His heart rate sped up exponentially and he couldn’t breathe. 

Before Percy could go into full meltdown mode, his savior arrived. Percy was too old to pretend that all of his problems would melt away when Sally entered the room, but the appearance of his mother was usually enough to temper the storm that settled inside of his soul.   

“Percy, baby, what’s wrong?” Sally questioned. Through tear filled eyes, Percy looked at his mother. She sat down on her knees and made to pull him in a tight embrace. Sally's hair was put up in a neat bun and she was wearing a light blue flower dress. She looked so viciously out of place; a beautiful piece of art in such a barren and dry household. "Was it Gabe, again?" 

Percy just nodded, refusing to say any more. He didn’t want his mother to worry about a few stupid mind games.  

Before Percy and Sally met Gabe, they were perfectly happy. Sure, they were poor, they both had to work, and Percy had to take out Tesserae in order to make ends meet, but they had each other and that was all that they needed.  

Everything they saw on TV about Gabe was more or less unremarkable and didn't give them any clues as to what kind of person he was. He was the standard, bloody, and violent victor from district 4.  

Sally met Gabe a few months after he won his games at the local dancing bar. Apparently, he swept her off her feet or something. Percy didn't really know how she could fall for someone that smelled like a human roach infestation, but to each their own. That was about 10 years ago.  

Once Gabe and Sally had tied the proverbial knot, he started to show his true colors. Percy was young, so he didn’t really remember when Gabe started his tyranny. All he remembered was whenever it started, it only got worse. 

Still, Percy and Sally had some traditions made specifically to rebel against Gabe. There was one time that Gabe and his mother got into a fight because Gabe said that there was no such thing as blue food. Since then, the two had gone out of their way to prepare meals with blue food coloring or on rare occasions eat blue candy. 

The other tradition that they had was not only a rebellion against Gabe, but a rebellion against the society that they knew. This one, however, they had participated in before Gabe was a part of the picture. 

If you take a stroll down district 4, you would see the slums, an area of town that they called fisherman's market, the docks, the victors village, the town Square a bunch of Woodland area that was completely off-limits to the citizens of district 4, and most importantly capital propaganda. 

Although most of the people that lived in district 4 could not afford to buy magazines or posters, propaganda was everywhere. There were some posters of different victors and captions like “Advice from Hometown Victor, Mags Flanagan: how the Games lead to finding your passion.” Other posters, the more popular ones, served as reminders to the public. 

"Curfew starts at 9 PM." 

"Sign up for Tesserae by March 27." 

"Don’t bite the hand that feeds you! Stealing from the Capitol is punishable by death!" 

"The Honor to Die for Your District—a Finnich Odair special" 

“If you see or hear of any cult like practices—report to Peacekeepers immediately!" 

Practicing religion was one of the highest offenses in Panem. Any mentions of the old gods were met with unbridled force, and harsh punishment. So, most people, most sane people, refused to even say the word “God” or “gods.” 

Sally told Percy that there was once a time before Panem, the Hunger Games, and the Dark Days. She spoke of lands where people used to be free to believe whatever they wanted: one God or twenty- it didn’t matter. Percy didn’t know how true all that could be.  

His mother told him greed overcame the different religions, and they ultimately went to war with each other for dominance, and humans accidentally laid waste to a once beautiful world. This elaborate tale had come from Percy’s elusive father, or so he was told.  

Percy’s father wasn’t around anymore, so any questions he had died with him. When he asked his mother about him, she got teary eyed and looked at him like he was about to evaporate into thin air.  

Still, Percy didn’t doubt that his father had existed at one point. He could feel his presence when the sea breeze ruffled his hair like a soothing caress, when he washed his wounds in the ocean water, and especially when the same water bent to his will.  

Even though he knew deep down that his father had truly existed, it didn’t make him any less bitter. He would live his life under constant scrutiny, supervision, and fear because of a man that he had never known in fear of persecution.  

It wasn't even that there was religious persecution in district 4, there wasn't anyone to persecute in the first place. Nobody even dared to believe in the old gods. Barely anyone even remembered their names, where they came from, or why the capital hated them so much.  

It was all buried beneath the propaganda, the oppression, and the control of the Capitol. Percy could almost feel the weight of that forgotten history pressing down on him, but it was a history that no one dared to acknowledge—except for the whispers between him and his mother.

In the midst of all of this, Percy could never forget the stark contrast between his life with Gabe and the one he could have had, the one his father had left behind for him. His father had been a distant presence as a figure who hovered in the background of his life like the ocean he barely understood. He was always there in Percy's corner, vast and ever-present, but also something he never truly grasped. And yet, there were moments when Percy could feel him, like an instinct, as if the sea itself was calling to him, guiding him toward something greater.

But that wasn’t what he lived for—not truly.

What he lived for was his mother, Sally Jackson. She was his world, his anchor. Sally was the only good thing in his life, the one person who had never let him down. Percy owed it to her for making her life so much harder. If it weren't for him, she probably would have never married Gabe. And as much as he dreamed of something more, something bigger, something beyond the suffocating grip of Gabe and the Capitol, Percy’s loyalty to her was unwavering. He couldn’t afford to risk her safety. Not when she had sacrificed so much for him, always shielding him from the worst of it, always keeping him close and safe from the storm of Capitol control.

Percy had been taught early on that survival was everything. And for him, that meant keeping his mother safe at all costs. As much as he hated Gabe’s cruelty, as much as he despised the Capitol, he couldn't bring himself to fight back against it.

Not yet.

Not until there was a way that wouldn’t endanger her. He couldn't lose her. She was the reason he woke up every day, the reason he fought through the endless weight of oppression. Every moment of peace he had was spent ensuring she was okay, making sure that no harm came her way. Whether it be from Gabe, or from the Capitol, or anyone. 

But it was in moments like these, when Gabe’s cruelty weighed on him, when the house felt like it was closing in and the air seemed too thick to breathe, that Percy longed for something more. For freedom. For the power to change his world. But not if it meant risking Sally. She had already given up so much for him, and he couldn’t repay that with rebellion. He needed to keep her safe. And so he remained silent, kept his head down, and did what was necessary to survive.

His mind flickered back to the Games, the very thing that had been forced upon him—the career training, the promises of glory, the pain. It was all a trap. The Hunger Games was a brutal and archaic system designed to break his people down and make them feel like they had no way out. And under the control of the Capitol there was no escape from the cycle of violence and survival. And Percy, though he hated it, had been pushed into the very system that he knew was wrong.

But despite everything—the anger, the resentment, the desire to escape—it wasn’t enough to push him toward rebellion. Not yet. Because if he did something reckless, something that might endanger Sally, then everything they had fought for would be lost. She was his priority. She always had been. And as long as she was safe, Percy could bear the weight of the Capitol’s cruelty. He could bear Gabe’s abuse, the constant reminders of everything he was being forced to endure. He just had to keep her safe, and that would be enough.

And yet, that nagging hope still remained. That tiny part of him, buried deep, that believed there had to be more to life than this—that there had to be a way to break free without destroying everything he held dear. Something that would honor his mother’s sacrifice, his father’s legacy, and perhaps even the gods that had been lost in the Capitol’s haze.

It was this hope that kept him from breaking completely, from sinking into the abyss of hopelessness that Gabe and the Capitol had created. Percy wasn't just fighting for survival anymore—he was fighting for something bigger, something worth living for. For his mother. For the lost gods. For freedom.

But at the core of it all, his loyalty was what kept him from going too far, from throwing himself into a revolution or rebellion too soon. He couldn’t act impulsively. Not with Sally at risk. Every choice had to be calculated, measured against the cost of her safety.

As he sat there with his mother, her arms wrapped around him, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of determination spark within him. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way out of this. Maybe he could make sure that his story wasn’t just one of survival, but one of rebellion. But it would have to be done carefully. Slowly. A step-by-step fight for freedom that wouldn’t destroy the only thing he had left.

The Capitol might have forgotten about the gods, but Percy wasn’t about to let them fade away completely. He had inherited something from his father—the sea was in his blood, in his bones—and Percy would not let it go to waste. The gods may have been lost, but the power of the ocean, of the very forces that shaped the world, was something that no Capitol could control.

And when the time came, Percy would rise. But it would have to be at the right moment, when he was certain that it would mean saving his mother, and not losing her.

But Percy was the son of a long-dead sea god. For him, nothing was ever simple.